A barrier that has faced insertion of optical interconnections within MCM environments is the absence of generic system-level building blocks suitable for inclusion by system designers within prototype MCM architectures. To obtain system-level acceptance, a stable digital interface with built-in self test, fault tolerance, and relaxation of optomechanical alignment must be provided. To accommodate the rapid technology development implied by chip level requirements, these generic components must provide this system-level stability while also acting as a technology platform from which new generations of optical components and integrated packaging can be evaluated. This paper describes design considerations for a prototype intelligent optical interconnection module (IOIM) to serve as this generic system- level building block. The utility of the IOIM organization is motivated through exploration of the requirements of an optoelectronic interface for a cryo-electronic communication switch prototype.